The relationship of the nutritional literacy level of individuals with diabetes on nutrition, quality of life, and metabolic control

Background Nutritional literacy is essential to improve the quality of life and metabolic control of individuals with diabetes. The aim is to evaluate the relationship between the Nutrition Literacy Level of Diabetic Individuals on Nutrition, Quality of Life, and Metabolic Control. Methods This study evaluated the relationship between the nutritional literacy level of 179 individuals diagnosed with diabetes aged 18-65 years with nutrition, quality of life, and metabolic control. The data of the study were obtained through a 5-part faceto-face survey method. Self-Perceived Food Literacy Scale (SPFLS) was used to measure the nutritional literacy of the participants, and the Quality-of-Life Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used to assess the health-related quality of life. Results Of the participants, 55.3% (n=99) had type-2 diabetes, and 44.7% (n=80) had type-1 diabetes. Their mean BMI was 27.83 ± 6.38 kg/m2 and an HbA1c value of 7.88 ± 2.13%. The mean age of individuals with type-1 diabetes participating in the study was 36.69±13.77, and those with type-2 diabetes as 55.60±9.91. In addition, when evaluated in terms of diabetes duration, the mean age was 13.17±9.74 years in those with type-1 diabetes and 11.80±8.13 years in those with type-2 diabetes. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05; p<0.001) was found in the SPFLS subfactor scores for ‘Social and Conscious Eating’ and ‘Food Label Analysis’ among diabetic individuals based on their diabetes type. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the SF-36 sub-factor scores (p>0.05). The study found a weak negative correlation between the BMI of individuals with type 1 diabetes and the SPFLS sub-factors ‘Resilience and Resistance’ and ‘Examining Food Labels’(p<0.05). In type-2 diabetics, BMI showed a weak positive correlation with ‘Food Preparation Skills’ and a weak negative correlation with ‘Resilience and Resistance,’ ‘Examining Food Labels,’ and ‘Physical Function’ (p<0.05). Additionally, in type-2 diabetics, BMI was weakly positively correlated with ‘Healthy Food Stockpiling,’ while the SF-36 sub-factors ‘Physical Function,’ ‘Role Physical,’ and ‘Vitality’ showed weak negative correlations” (p<0.05). While no significant statistical difference was found between the SPFLS sub-factors and HbA1c values in type-1 diabetic individuals (p>0.05), only the "Healthy Food Availability" sub-factor and HbA1c were found to be statistically significant in type-2 diabetic individuals (p<0.05).The subscales of SPFLS and SF-36 show significant relationships with the physical activity level, nutritional habits, body functions, mental health, social life, and general quality of life of individuals with ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT ARTICLE IN PRESS ARTICLE IN PRESS diabetes, comprehensively revealing the disease's physical, psychosocial, and lifestyle effects on the individual. These findings support the significant associations of BMI and HbA1c with various lifestyle and health factors. Conclusions This study found that in type-1 diabetics, age and diabetes duration were positively correlated with food literacy and quality of life, while no such correlations were found in type-2 diabetics. Increasing food literacy in diabetes management may be an important component that can positively influence metabolic control, improve physical and mental health, and give individuals the option to manage their health and improve quality of life and well-being.